“I believe that we will win.”
With our fists held in the air, over 12,000 people chanted these powerful words led by State Representative Bruce Frank Jr. during his keynote speech at the March for Our Lives in St. Louis. I wanted to share my experience at this event for both those who were unable to attend and those who never would. So, I had some family members—who fall into both categories—ask me any questions they had about the march. This article is the result.
What kind of people go and what is the atmosphere like?
I was pleasantly surprised by the different age groups represented at the march. As I looked around, I was struck by the resilience and passion in the eyes of every student, parent, grandparent, teacher, and veteran who walked alongside me. The crowd was pretty equally comprised of men and women and was both diverse and representative of St. Louis. I saw elementary aged children carrying crayon-colored signs, and I saw an older woman in a wheelchair toting a sign which read, “I can’t walk, but I can march.” There is a sense of urgency amongst the crowd, and complete strangers engage in conversation with one another to share their frustrations and motivations. Because the event is within the context of such a tense situation, people are understandably emotional. However, the demeanor of the marchers exemplified how inspired and empowered they feel, and there was never a moment where I felt uncomfortable or unwelcome.
What did you do there?
I had the chance to volunteer with HeadCount—a “non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to voter registration and inspiring participation in democracy.” Armed with clipboards and voter registration forms, volunteers waded through the crowds of marchers seeking out those who needed to update their information, or who weren’t yet registered at all. We were invited and encouraged to approach ALL march attendees—even counter-protesters. The purpose of HeadCount’s presence was to help ANY and EVERY marcher get involved in democracy and have their voices heard—regardless of their message. All in all, HeadCount registered 122 people at the St. Louis March for Our Lives. Combined with voter registrations from other organizations present, there were over 200 new voters registered at the St. Louis March alone. Across the country, HeadCount registered around 4,800 new voters. My friends, this is what democracy looks like.
What was your reaction? Was it what you expected?
My reaction was absolute astonishment. What I found most compelling about the March for Our Lives was the palpable sense of passion amongst the marchers. I was standing in the midst of thousands of people; every single one had unwaveringly chosen to freeze their asses off for hours to speak on these issues. To me, this day was so much bigger than all the arguing that surrounds the context of the event itself. I had expected a spark of passion, but these marchers ignited a forest fire. Movements such as this are nothing without the people fighting to back them, and those in attendance made it clear they will not be ignored. Listening to the stories and experiences of the marchers and speakers was truly an enlightening opportunity. Since this march took place in St. Louis, the language surrounding gun violence was extremely precise and relevant. Bruce Frank Jr. pinpointed this applicability in his speech: “I don’t know how many people here are from the City of St. Louis, but if everybody looks to their left and they walk for 10 minutes, you’re going to walk right into gun violence where it happens each and every day.” I think the dialogue at the March was so impactful because it was so relevant to every person in that crowd. Each person held their fists in the air for the friends, families, neighbors, coworkers, peers, students, teachers, soldiers, veterans, and complete strangers that have been affected by gun violence. This march is more than Parkland. It is more than Las Vegas. It is more than Sandy Hook. It is more than Sutherland Springs. It is more than Aurora. It is more than Pulse Nightclub. It is more than Virginia Tech. It is more than Columbine. It is the culmination of all of the hurt and frustration and tragedy that has repeatedly occurred in this nation, and all of the inadequate “thoughts and prayers” that have been offered in response. It is a rallying cry for action, and that was so much more powerful and palpable than I could have imagined.
Why march?
St. Louis’ March for Our Lives was the second march I have experienced; I attended the Women’s March earlier this year in St. Louis. At both events, I was amazed and overwhelmed by the passion, dedication, and resilience of the marchers. For that exact reason, I chose to write this article. So, when I was asked, “why march?”, I fully understand and find it valid that some may question the purpose of marches. Where will walking around and chanting things get you? What will that accomplish? What’s the point? The purpose of the March for Our Lives is to show that there are thousands upon thousands of people emphatically and vehemently standing in solidarity with every single victim of gun violence, and to make it abundantly clear that “thoughts and prayers” are no longer sufficient. It is a physical manifestation of what we are attempting to accomplish—demanding an end to complicity when it comes to these issues. It is unity and resilience and empowerment, embodied. It is a MOVEMENT, not a moment. I cannot emphasize enough how influential I think the marches are, and how highly I recommend that every person attends one to learn and understand the full context and dialogue that occurs within the marches and outside of any media’s portrayal. Ultimately, the marches are a place to discuss and educate ourselves about actions that can be taken to progress the conversation and influence actual change. To name a few: 1) VOTE! Ensure that you, your friends, your family members, and every other human you know is registered, informed, and ready to get involved and have their voices be heard. 2) Call your reps! Text them! Email them! Tweet them! Old school snail mail it! Let your representatives know your beliefs and opinions, and demand that they take action to protect those they were elected to serve. 3) Get involved! Volunteer with HeadCount or other voter registration organizations. Attend local events—such as the Town Hall for Our Lives on April 7th and the Student Walkout on April 20th—to stay informed and ignited about the issues. And 4) do not lose hope. This is only the beginning, and change WILL come. “I believe that we will win. I know that we will win.”